Search Chicago Jazz
Jazz Calendar
There are no shows posted for today. Please check back soon.
Elkhart Jazz Festival
Elkhart Jazz Festival
Date Posted: March 03 2009
Written By: Chicago Jazz
|
 Bookmark it!
|
Elkhart Jazz Festival:
Twenty-two years and counting
Since 1988, the Elkhart Jazz Festival (EJF) has become a favorite event each year with locals as well as jazz lovers all over the country. Those early planners never dreamed that it would meet with the great success that it now celebrates. It all got started in 1987 by theater-owner Bill Miller, an Elkhart mover and shaker at the time. Miller liked the idea, and thought this would provide an excellent opportunity for the city, and took it a step farther with phone calls to his contacts, who he thought should be involved. Soon the planning began for the festival but it became clear that they would need some insight into the planning of a world-class festival, so they enlisted the help of Eddy Banjura, the president of the Illiana Traditional Jazz Society; Penny Tyler, the talent chairperson for the Chicago Jazz Festival; and Don Boyer, a good friend and jazz festival attendee extraordinaire.
Eddy Banjura's jazz festivals in the Chicago area were close in nature to what the EJF committee wanted so his information was of special interest. Penny Tyler's experience with one of the largest and best jazz festivals in the world was also valuable, especially the legal ramifications and important contractual guidelines for dealing with musicians. Don Boyer's visits to several festivals allowed him to share what works and doesn't work. Their input was exceptionally useful during the early stages.
Since the very fist year, the Elkhart Jazz Festival, unlike many other festivals from around the world, has relied exclusively on locals to make the festival happen. Even from the early days up to today the Elkhart Centre staff and volunteers with the financial support of the city's businesses and individual patrons have made the festival one of the nation's favorites.
The festival began strong from its opening year, 1988, the opening performance featuring the Basie Reunion Band, which included Doc Cheatham, Frank Wess, Butch Miles, Snooky Young, Eric Schneider, Bobby Lewis, Bob Cooper, Buddy DeFranco, Ralph Sutton (standing in for Basie!), Benny Powell, Everett Greene (vocals), John DeFauw, Milt Hinton, and Gus Johnson. And what an opener it was! The momentum from that first year has carried over nineteen more great line-ups and has drawn fans from around the world.
Van Young, a longtime jazz radio personality who currently has a show on PBS and who also books a jazz series in South Florida, has been in charge of the programming for years at the Elkhart Jazz Festival. He says the concept of the festival is simple: "We decided on Day One of our planning to make it an eclectic three-day festival, and it has followed that format on as many as eight, but usually six, venues each year. Basically it has been trad, swing, big band for the most part, but we include some fusion, blues, bebop, and so-forth."
Because Elkhart, Indiana is so close to Chicago, the festival always features a generous share of Chicago jazz talent. Chicago musicians John Bany and Bobby Lewis perform regularly, and the festival honored Franz Jackson a few years ago. Chicagoans on this year's fest include the Rob Parton Big Band, a group of all-star Chicagoans, and the Red Rose Ragtime Jazz Band.
Other bands scheduled to appear at this year’s festival include:
Airmen of Note
Harry Allen Quartet
Bill Allred Classic Jazz Band
BED
Dave Bennett Quartet
Tim Cunningham Band
Jeff Greene International Ragtime Band
Truth in Jazz
Vibenation
Yoshima and Carolina Shout Swing Band
Goshen High School All-Star Jazz Band
The Elkhart Jazz Festival happens June 26, 27 and 28. For more information please visit elkhartjazzfestival.com or call (800) 597-7627.
Comment on this Article!
Don't miss anymore Chicago Jazz Information.
Subscribe to Chicago Jazz magazine / Get A Free CD.
Subscribe to our Chicago Jazz weekly newsletter.
